Find out how popular the last name Cely is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cely.

Cely, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cely in America

Cely is the 70208th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cely surname appeared 279 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cely to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cely

The surname CELY is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "cely" meaning "heavenly" or "celestial." It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name was initially associated with individuals who exhibited exceptional religious devotion or those who worked in religious institutions. It may have been bestowed upon monks, priests, or individuals with a strong connection to the church or celestial matters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CELY can be traced back to the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document from 1279, which mentions a John Cely. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the CELY surname appears in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which lists a Thomas Cely. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 mention a Hugo Cely, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England.

During the 15th century, the surname gained prominence with the rise of the Cely family, a prominent merchant family based in London. William Cely (c. 1420-1493) was a notable member of this family, known for his successful mercantile ventures and his correspondence, which provides valuable insights into the commercial life of the time.

Another notable individual with the CELY surname was Sir John Cely (c. 1490-1557), a prominent merchant and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1558 and played a significant role in furthering English trade interests.

In the 16th century, the CELY surname was also associated with the arts. Walter Cely (c. 1540-1610) was an English painter and miniaturist who gained recognition for his portraiture and decorative works.

During the 17th century, the name CELY appears in various parish records across England, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country. One notable bearer of the name was Edward Cely (c. 1630-1695), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Wimbledon in Surrey.

As the centuries progressed, the CELY surname continued to be found in various regions of England, with some branches of the family potentially migrating to other parts of the British Isles or even overseas colonies.

It is important to note that variations in spelling, such as CEELY or SEELY, may have existed due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences. Additionally, the surname could have evolved over time, with some branches adopting different spellings or even anglicized forms.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cely

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cely.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cely was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cely has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cely was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cely, please contact us.

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